WRT Completes Misano Sweep in Race 2: A Dominant Display of Strategy and Speed
The WRT team showcased their prowess in the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup at Misano, securing a clean sweep in Race 2. This victory was a testament to their strategic brilliance and the exceptional skills of their drivers, Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts.
In Race 1, Weerts' decisive start and WRT's efficient pit stops were key to their triumph. However, Race 2 presented a different challenge. The polesitter, Jules Gounon, in the Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, held the lead for much of the opening stint, with van der Linde in constant pursuit. The tension was palpable as the two cars entered the pits nose-to-tail at the end of lap 20.
This is where WRT's mechanics shone. They swiftly turned the No. 32 BMW around, putting Weerts out in front. The strategy paid off, as Weerts dominated the remainder of the race, leaving Dani Juncadella in his wake. This victory marked Weerts' 20th Sprint Cup win, solidifying his status as a four-time series champion and leader in the championship standings.
The race also saw some dramatic moments. Lionspeed GP's Bastian Buus and Ricardo Feller's Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo was running in the top ten until Buus' penalty for rotating Patric Niederhauser's Rutronik Lamborghini Temerario at Turn 2. This penalty handed the race to Feller, who finished in 20th place. Maro Engel and Lucas Auer's Winward Mercedes-AMG completed the podium, with Auer's pass on Valentino Rossi's WRT BMW on the penultimate lap adding a thrilling twist.
The WRT BMWs continued to make waves, with Max Hesse and Rossi finishing fourth, and Ben Green and Thierry Vermeulen's Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo in fifth. However, the race control's decision to penalize Green for forcing Pepper off the track added an element of controversy, limiting Pepper's co-driver Amaury Cordeel to tenth.
The Gold class saw a close battle, with Alex Aka and Dylan Pereira's Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II taking the victory. Louis Prette and Tom Fleming's Garage 59 McLaren finished second, with Simon Gachet completing the class podium. The Silver class was dominated by the GetSpeed Team Bartone Bros Mercedes-AMG, while the Bronze class saw Rinat Salikhov and Marvin Dienst's Winward Mercedes-AMG prevail.
In the Pro class, Jamie Day and Mateo Villagomez's Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin AMR GT3 EVO finished second, with a controversial penalty for an unsafe release demoting them to third. The overall winner of the race, however, was the WRT team's strategic brilliance and the exceptional skills of their drivers, Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts.
This sweep at Misano highlights WRT's ability to adapt and excel in high-pressure situations. Their performance serves as a reminder that strategy and speed are equally vital in the world of GT racing. As the series progresses, WRT's dominance is sure to keep spectators on the edge of their seats, eager to see how they continue to innovate and dominate the track.
